“Why are you here?” she asked again, curious really, as to why he felt the need to follow, to stalk, someone he didn’t care for. “Are you trying to prove something? Some weird, alpha control thing? None of that shit will work on me.”
“Lady, I don’t need to prove anything to you. I want the portal. End of story. You’re the part of the equation I’m not sure of.”
Her nostrils flared madly, and she took a few steps toward him. “For the last time, you will not question my loya
lty or actions.” She was livid. “If you want my help, accept the fact that we’re on the same side or get your ass away from here.”
“So defensive,” he whispered. Julian took the remaining steps between them until they were but inches apart.
Her heart pounded against her chest, the beat heavy and strong. It kept time with the madness that danced along the edges of her clan tattoos, the energy biting, thrilling.
She was tall but felt inadequate next to his six-foot-four-inch frame. Damn but she wished her Jimmys were still attached to her feet.
He changed the subject. “I hate to point out that Kragen had you exactly where he wanted.”
“And where would that be?” she asked cheekily, the words dripping in sarcasm.
“Between his legs.”
She snarled, and her hand flew up, but he caught her fist before she could do any damage, while his other arm grabbed her around the shoulder and held her still. His fingers dug in, but she refused to acknowledge the pain and glared up at him.
“You don’t want to do that,” he whispered dangerously.
“You have no idea what I want to do to you.” She tried to pull away, but he refused to let her go; instead, he jerked her close, and she inhaled sharply as her nipples grazed his hard flesh.
She felt a blush creep up her cheeks as his teeth flashed white, cutting through the gloom. His lips were firm, open slightly, and she fought the insane desire to grab them, claim them as hers once more.
She knew how amazing they felt as they slid along skin.
“I’ve a pretty good idea,” he answered, his long lashes sweeping downward as he gazed at her hard, aching nipples. “Always the little whore, no?” He laughed harshly and nodded behind them. “Magick man not enough for you?”
He bent his head, and, for a second, she was afraid he would kiss her, and she’d never have control over the emotions and urges that were ripping through her relentlessly.
She felt liquid heat pool deep within the softness between her legs and wanted to lash out at the irony. That she should feel such overwhelming desire for a man who thought she was no more than a common prostitute.
She tried to arch away, but he held her firm, and his mouth settled near the hollow in her neck, allowing her a moment of relief. But only a moment, and she shuddered as his warm breath spread shivers of energy across her heated flesh.
He inhaled a deep breath and sniffed along her collarbone, his hands tightening against hers painfully, but she didn’t care.
Inside her body, everything had melted into liquid fire. Her jaguar burned beneath her flesh, wanting the man she’d claimed years earlier.
He continued to slowly move back up the side of her neck until his lips were next to her ear. “Or have you already had dessert?” The energy in the air changed then, as did the tone of Julian’s voice.
His tongue licked along the small juncture between her ear and her neck, and she couldn’t stop the groan that fell from her lips. She shook her head slowly, hating the way he made her feel. The lack of control he pulled from her.
“Did you fuck him?” he asked abruptly. He was hard and ground his erection against her belly, his hand loosening its grip on her shoulder as he slowly dragged his large palm downward against her butt and held her tight.
Her nostrils flared as she looked up into the glittering depths of his eyes. “Take your hands off my ass.” Her voice was low, the words precise.
His eyes narrowed, his lips were tight. “Did you?” he asked once more. “Spread your legs for that piece of filth?”
“What if I did?” she answered, her own anger rising to the fore.
He opened his mouth to answer when a cough, followed by another cough echoed into the small garden. They both froze.
Shit. They had company.
Jaden peered around Julian and spied both Finn and Declan. Finn looked away, but Declan grinned at her, winking as he did so.